Windows 8.1 to Windows 7 on new Alien 17, Licensing questions

Having been sent a nice shiny new Alienware 17 to replace the one brutalised by a visiting technician, I am more than happy with the new machine, especially the 120hz display.

I'm less impressed with Windows 8.1 though, and am planning on so-called down-grading to Windows 7, using a fresh clean SSD, and as the Win 8 is not Pro I will have to do a fresh install of 7, and have a couple of questions;

My previous 17 had Windows 7 Home Premium, and the COA says Dell rather than Alienware

Now I would prefer Win 7 Ultimate, and have a brand new unused Dell OEM COA for Win 7 Ultimate, as we have a lot of Dell systems at work that were downgraded to Win XP without ever being fired up on Win 7.

What I want to confirm is if I was to utilise this Dell Win 7 Ultimate OEM key will I have Activation issues or WGA troubles?

Regards

Dave

 

What I used to downgrade my Alienware 18 to Windows 7 is the Alienware Windows 7 Professional SP1 Disc, since that is an Alienware OEM Windows, it will detect that you have an Alienware motherboard and no need for activation or a product key even, it will simply be activated the moment you install it. Now I'm not sure how it would be if you use a standard Windows DVD but the best thing is to use an Alienware Windows 7 DVD, it will be activated and have all the Alienware cutomizations and logos out of the box

 

If you want Ultimate, it has to be Dell ultimate key and Dell recovery media. You will have no issues with this, you can use the change license key and just type the Ultimate version key. When you install original Home premium, it should be already activated (if the laptop had Windows 7 and was later upgraded to Windows 8.1). If it came with Windows 8.1, it will have 8.1 license in the mainboard and will not activate any version of Windows 7 automatically. You can still use any Dell branded COA to activate Windows. Windows COA should match your recovery media though - Win HP for HP, Ultimate for Ultimate etc.
Generic Windows disks might activate just fine, but I have no experience with them. And as Ferris23 already pointed out, you would loose all AW customisation with generic DVDs.

 

Thanks Guys,

I have a Dell 64bit Win 7 Ultimate COA and Disc, and also an Alienware Home Premium Disc that I got with the original system; I have installed that on the new drive in the old system and can lift the customised boot screens and wallpaper, avatars and branding etc so I am sure I'll be able to Alienize the Ultimate install.

I'm going to install a fresh 512gb SSD as primary, keep the 256gb mSATA , and use the 256gb SSD as HDD2, until I can afford to buy another 512gb when it will be replaced; and I'll then cascade the 256gb drive into my wifes Thinkpad.

Nothing goes to waste here!

I'm also going to find a home for the 80gb mSata surplus from the Alien, and add an external housing to the 1tb 5400rpm drive that partnered it. Not exactly going to set the world alight but as an external drive for storing backups it will be fine.

Cheers again,

Dave